Quality Records was a Canadian entertainment company which released music albums in Canada on behalf of American record labels. They also released recordings by Canadian artists.
The company operated between 1950 and 1985 with offices in Toronto.
The company also ran from 1990 to 1998 as "Quality Special Products" with Offices both in Canada and the United States.
History
In the 1950s and 1960s it was commonplace for American labels without Canadian branches to lease their recordings out to Canadian-based labels that would release the songs on their behalf north of the border. Quality was one of the largest and most visible of these companies; aside from the Quality brand itself, several other sister labels such as Reo were employed for this purpose. US labels distributed via Quality included
Essex Records
Essex Records was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1951 by David Miller primarily to record contemporary country and western, rhythm and blues as well as jazz and gospel. Jack Howard was the promotion manager. The label had little pop ...
,
Chess Records and
Sun Records
Sun Records is an American independent record label founded by producer Sam Phillips in Memphis, Tennessee in February 1952. Sun was the first label to record Elvis Presley, Charlie Rich, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Johnny ...
. As a result, it was through Quality that Canadian audiences first heard the music of
Bill Haley and His Comets
Bill(s) may refer to:
Common meanings
* Banknote, paper cash (especially in the United States)
* Bill (law), a proposed law put before a legislature
* Invoice, commercial document issued by a seller to a buyer
* Bill, a bird or animal's beak
Plac ...
,
Chuck Berry
Charles Edward Anderson Berry (October 18, 1926 – March 18, 2017) was an American singer, songwriter and guitarist who pioneered rock and roll. Nicknamed the " Father of Rock and Roll", he refined and developed rhythm and blues into th ...
,
Carl Perkins
Carl Lee Perkins (April 9, 1932 – January 19, 1998)#nytimesobit, Pareles. was an American guitarist, singer and songwriter. A rockabilly great and pioneer of rock and roll, he began his recording career at the Sun Studio, in Memphis, Tennes ...
,
Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis (September 29, 1935October 28, 2022) was an American singer, songwriter and pianist. Nicknamed "The Killer", he was described as "rock & roll's first great wild man". A pioneer of rock and roll and rockabilly music, Lewis made ...
,
Johnny Cash
John R. Cash (born J. R. Cash; February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was an American country singer-songwriter. Much of Cash's music contained themes of sorrow, moral tribulation, and redemption, especially in the later stages of his ca ...
and other early rock and roll artists.
Bobby Gimby
Bobby Gimby, OC (October 25, 1918 – June 20, 1998) was a Canadian orchestra leader, trumpeter, and singer-songwriter.
Biography
He was born Robert Stead Gimby (pronounced Jim-bee) in Cabri, Saskatchewan, a small town of about 300 people. ...
's song "
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...
" as sung by the Young Canada Singers was released in 1967 as a 45 rpm single by Quality on behalf of Canada's Centennial Commission. It set a sales record for Canadian single releases.
Stompin' Tom Connors recordings made by CKGB radio in 1967 were pressed by Quality Records and distributed by Connors himself.
The company won in the category of Best Company for Canadian Content at the
Gold Leaf Awards of 1970 and the
Juno Awards of 1971
The Juno Awards of 1971 (Juno Award), representing Canadian music industry achievements of the previous year, were awarded on 22 February 1971 in Toronto at a ceremony in the St. Lawrence Hall. These would be the first awards to be formally title ...
.
In the mid-80s, Quality Records replaced
K-tel International
K-tel International Ltd is a Canadian company which formerly specialized in selling consumer products through infomercials and live demonstration. Its products include compilation music albums, including ''The Super Hits'' series, ''The Dynami ...
as a distributor of various artist compilations in Canada,
most notably with the Rock series (Rock '85, Rock '86, etc.) and 'This is Music' series.
It closed down in 1985. However, in 1990, it revived as Quality Music & Video for new recordings, notably
Dan Hill
Daniel Grafton Hill IV (born 3 June 1954) is a Canadian pop singer and songwriter. He had two major international hits with his songs " Sometimes When We Touch" and "Can't We Try", a duet with Vonda Shepard, as well as a number of other charti ...
's 1991 album ''Dance of Love'' and
Timmy T
Timmy Torres (born September 21, 1967, in Fresno, California Bronson, Fred (2003). ''The Billboard Book of #1 Hits'', 5th Edition (Billboard Publications), page 781.), professionally known as Timmy T, is a freestyle performer and musician. Timm ...
's number 1 pop hit "
One More Try". However, it folded again in 1997 & a selection of the US catalog rights were sold to
Warlock Records
Warlock Records is a record label based in New York City that was founded in 1985 by Adam Levy (born 1962), whose father was record producer Morris Levy. Artists that recorded for Warlock Records include Jungle Brothers, Royal House, Skinny Boys ...
, a New York-based record label that acquired the catalog numbers of
Sleeping Bag Records
Sleeping Bag Records is a defunct New York City-based independent record label founded by musician Arthur Russell and entrepreneur Will Socolov. It was active between 1981 and 1992, and specialized in dance music and hip hop.
Background and ...
. Quality also had some of its domestic artist releases distributed through Critique Records and Popular Records in the United States for their compilations, including the "Dance Mix USA" series.
In the 90's Quality Records rebranded as Quality Special Products,
Quality Records along with
MuchMusic
Much (an abbreviation for its full name MuchMusic) is a Canadian English language specialty channel owned by BCE Inc. through its Bell Media subsidiary that airs programming aimed at teenagers and young adults.
MuchMusic launched on August 31 ...
put out the Dance Mix series from 1990 to 1997.
Quality Records folded in 1997 in Canada shortly before their American branch folded in 1998.
The Dance Mix series was rebranded
MuchDance in late 1997 after Much's contract with Quality Records expired.
Artists
Quality Records released recordings by the following music artists:
*
2 Unlimited
*
Bananarama
Bananarama are an English pop duo from London, formed as a trio in 1980 by friends Sara Dallin, Siobhan Fahey and Keren Woodward. Fahey left the group in 1988 and was replaced by Jacquie O'Sullivan until 1991, when the trio became a duo. Thei ...
("
Every Shade of Blue")
* Barry Allen
* Bentwood Rocker
*
Bill Haley & His Comets
Bill Haley & His Comets were an American rock and roll band founded in 1947 that continued until Haley's death in 1981. The band was also known as Bill Haley and the Comets and Bill Haley's Comets. From late 1954 to late 1956, the group record ...
*
BKS
* Canadian Sweethearts
* Carol Medina
*
Carol Williams
*
CB Milton
CB Milton, aka Clarence Bekker (born Clarence Becker Milton, 11 April 1968, in Suriname), is a Dutch electronic music vocalist, who became known in the early 1990s. He is best known for the singles " It's a Loving Thing", "Send Me an Angel" and " ...
*
Chuck Berry
Charles Edward Anderson Berry (October 18, 1926 – March 18, 2017) was an American singer, songwriter and guitarist who pioneered rock and roll. Nicknamed the " Father of Rock and Roll", he refined and developed rhythm and blues into th ...
* Crewz Control
*
Dan Hill
Daniel Grafton Hill IV (born 3 June 1954) is a Canadian pop singer and songwriter. He had two major international hits with his songs " Sometimes When We Touch" and "Can't We Try", a duet with Vonda Shepard, as well as a number of other charti ...
* Dea
* DJ Ricky Dee
*
Donn Reynolds
Stanley Beresford "Donn" Reynolds (June 26, 1921 – August 16, 1997) was a Canadian country music singer and yodeler most widely known for his Bavarian style of yodeling. Often referred to as Canada's "king of the yodelers",[Double You
Double You are an Italian Eurodance group founded in 1985 by vocalist William Naraine, keyboardist and producer Franco Amato and DJ Andrea de Antoni. By 1992, they had sold more than three million records. " Please Don't Go", a dance version of KC ...]
* Fireballs
* Gary Cooper / Gary Andrews
*
Ghetto Concept
Ghetto Concept is a Canadian hip-hop duo from Toronto, Ontario, composed of Kwajo Cinqo and Dolo. Infinite, who is currently a solo artist, is a former member of the group.
History
Kwajo Cinqo (Kwajo Boateng) and Dolo (Lowell Frazer) formed Ghett ...
*
Harmonium
The pump organ is a type of free-reed organ that generates sound as air flows past a vibrating piece of thin metal in a frame. The piece of metal is called a reed. Specific types of pump organ include the reed organ, harmonium, and melodeon. T ...
*
Hennie Bekker
*
Herman's Hermits
Herman's Hermits are an English beat, rock and pop group formed in 1964 in Manchester, originally called Herman and His Hermits and featuring lead singer Peter Noone. Produced by Mickie Most, the Hermits charted with number ones in the UK a ...
*
Jack Hennig
Jack Hennig (born August 26, 1946, in Edmonton, Alberta) is a Canadian singer-songwriter. Hennig is best known for his Canadian hits "Lady Highway" (1976), "George the Hermit" (1978), "Mindy" (1978), and "Caught in the Middle" (1979). During the ...
*
Japan
Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...
*
Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis (September 29, 1935October 28, 2022) was an American singer, songwriter and pianist. Nicknamed "The Killer", he was described as "rock & roll's first great wild man". A pioneer of rock and roll and rockabilly music, Lewis made ...
*
J.K.
*
Johnny Cash
John R. Cash (born J. R. Cash; February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was an American country singer-songwriter. Much of Cash's music contained themes of sorrow, moral tribulation, and redemption, especially in the later stages of his ca ...
* Kairene
*
Kenny Marco
* Kiss
*
Link Wray
*
Los Del Mar
* Lucille Starr
*
Maxx
*
MC Mario
Mario Tremblay, better known under his moniker MC Mario, is a Canadian song producer, disc jockey, and a former Virgin radio host from Montreal.
Biography
Born circa 1970, Mario studied in sound tracking/acoustic equipment at the UQAM. Upon gr ...
* Meddy's People
*
Mighty Dub Katz
"Magic Carpet Ride" is a song by British duo Mighty Dub Katz, which consisted of DJ, musician and record producer Norman Cook and his former flatmate Gareth Hansome (a.k.a. GMoney). It was first released in 1995 and is their biggest hit to date, p ...
* New System
* Perfect World
*
Planet Soul
*
Playahitty
Playahitty was an Italian Eurodance group, best known for the 1994 summer hit " The Summer Is Magic", and also for other popular club tracks, such as " 1-2-3! (Train with Me)". Lipsync was performed on stage and in the videos by models called Mar ...
*
The Regents
*
Richard Clayderman
Richard Clayderman (; born Philippe Pagès , 28 December 1953 in Paris) is a French pianist who has released numerous albums including the compositions of Paul de Senneville, Olivier Toussaint and Marc Minier, instrumental renditions of popular ...
*
Riot
A riot is a form of civil disorder commonly characterized by a group lashing out in a violent public disturbance against authority, property, or people.
Riots typically involve destruction of property, public or private. The property targete ...
*
Ronn Metcalfe
*
Secret Life
*
Skip Prokop
Ronald Harry "Skip" Prokop (December 13, 1943 – August 30, 2017) was a Canadian drummer, guitarist and keyboardist. He was also a band leader, was a founding member of the Canadian rock music groups the Paupers and Lighthouse.
Early life
Proko ...
*
DJ Supreme
*
Steve Plunkett
Autograph is an American glam metal band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1983. The band is best known for their 1984 hit song " Turn Up the Radio". Due to the song being their only major success, Autograph is often considered a one-hit wond ...
*
Strike
Strike may refer to:
People
* Strike (surname)
Physical confrontation or removal
*Strike (attack), attack with an inanimate object or a part of the human body intended to cause harm
*Airstrike, military strike by air forces on either a suspected ...
*
The Beau-Marks
*
The Guess Who
The Guess Who are a Canadian rock band formed in Winnipeg, Manitoba, in 1965. The band originated in 1962 and achieved an international hit single with a cover of "Shakin' All Over" in 1965 under the name Chad Allan and the Expressions. After c ...
/Chad Allan and the Expressions
* The Lisa Hart Band
*
The Paris Sisters
The Paris Sisters were a 1960s American girl group from San Francisco, California, United States, best known for their work with producer Phil Spector.
Career
The group consisted of lead singer Priscilla Paris (January 4, 1941 – March 5, 200 ...
*
Robbie Rae
* Tijuana Brass
*
Timmy T
Timmy Torres (born September 21, 1967, in Fresno, California Bronson, Fred (2003). ''The Billboard Book of #1 Hits'', 5th Edition (Billboard Publications), page 781.), professionally known as Timmy T, is a freestyle performer and musician. Timm ...
*
Ultra Naté
Ultra Naté Wyche (born March 20, 1968) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, DJ and promoter who has achieved success on the pop charts with songs such as "Free", " If You Could Read My Mind" (as part of Stars on 54), and "Autom ...
*
Wes Dakus
Wesley "Wes" Dakus (April 2, 1938 – August 18, 2013) was a Canadian musician and the leader of Wes Dakus and the Rebels, Canada's most popular instrumental group of the 1960s.
Wes Dakus and the Rebels
Dakus was born in Mannville, Alberta, and ...
& the Rebels
*
Whigfield
Whigfield is an Italian dance act fronted by Danish singer, songwriter and record producer Sannie Charlotte Carlson (born 11 April 1970), known by her various stage names including Whigfield, Naan, or simply Sannie. She is best known for her 1993 ...
* Yakoo Boyz
References
External links
*
Discogs: Quality Records Limited
Record labels established in 1950
Record labels disestablished in 1985
Record labels established in 1990
Record labels disestablished in 1997
Re-established companies
Defunct record labels of Canada
Juno Award winners
{{Canada-record-label-stub